Tenant Profile: Kirsty Garland, On The Wall

What do you do here at the Corn Exchange?

I work at On The Wall selling everything from swanky bespoke frames to sleazy comic book art.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’ve a second job as a photographer that’s generally lots of fun for not a lot of money. So on my days off I’m often trailing hungover musicians around London or dragging axe wielding women up Ilkley Moor in vintage lingerie.

What is your history with the building?

As for many locals of my generation, the Corn Exchange will forever be mosher-mecca in my mind. Saturdays spent buying your Stargazer goth makeup from Grin, your skater shoes from Exit, and flicking through the weird books in the Wicca shop. 13 year old me would think it’s incredibly cool that I’m working here.

What is your favourite thing about working at the Corn Exchange?

Being able to buy cake from four metres away. Vanilla-One do a lovely Bailey’s chocolate brownie for when you’re feeling a bit worse for wear…

Tell us about your best day out in Leeds. Where do you go? What do you do?

Generally I’d hit the record shops with my husband Marko – he works in Jumbo so we’ve got that one covered, but there’s loads of excellent record shops sprung up in recent years. Wall of Sound below Crash is great for second hand records, as is Noise Is For Heroes, and of course Relics are a Leeds institution. Then there’s the endless selections of bars to hit – Wax and Smokestack are great for a boogie, while Brudenell is hands down the best music venue in Leeds. Plus you can get a Jack and Soda for less than two quid.